Friday, October 16, 2009

Produced by Ray Ruff and Jimmy Bowen on the Motown imprint Prodigal Records, Delaney Bramlett does a soulful-by-way-of-Macon cover of the Temptations' "I Wish It Would Rain," a good idea to try to break out of Motown with the label's own weaponry and a Top Five hit from 1968. It's an excellent re-working. Bramlett lists in his thank yous about a thousand friends -- no exaggeration -- on the back cover, from Ringo Starr, George Harrison, and Eric Clapton to ex-wife Bonnie Bramlett, but Class Reunion by Delaney Bramlett & Friends is a different clan: Fanny'sPatti Quatro, guitarist Spider Taylor, drummers Stu Perry and Jim Keltner, and a duet with ABC artist Susie Allanson on "For Old Times Sake." Make no mistake, this is more a Delaney Bramlett album like his 1973 CBS outing, Mobius Strip, than a class-reunion project, though it does have a classy sound. The only obvious holdovers from Mobius Strip are Clydie King on backing vocals, songwriter Doug Gilmore, and manager John Bramlett. That being said, this album is very, very strong. "Everyday's a Holiday," the one track written by Bramlett, Peter Spellman, and Doug Gilmore, is a standout among ten funky, thoughtful, engrossing essays of Southern pop. Sometimes changing labels can jump start a career, but Motown was an anomaly, not able to deliver album projects the way it did hit singles in the '60s. Had Delaney Bramlett stayed on CBS and gotten support, a pure pop tune like "You Can't Measure My Love," sounding so much like an earthy Mac Davis, might've been a huge adult contemporary hit. Bramlett goes from sounding like the voice of Eric Clapton by way of Terri Gibbs on "Locked up in Alabama" (keep in mind that Gibbs hit with "Somebody's Knocking" four years after this album) to Ronnie Milsap, who, no coincidence, had a number one country hit on RCA when this album, Class Reunion, was released. As evidenced by the Genesis album of early Delaney & Bonnie and solo Bramlett tracks, the singer can be a chameleon and possesses an uncanny ability to have his own style while copping other voices simultaneously. Songwriter Randy Sharp contributes the last three titles: "Who You Gonna Blame It On," "You Were the Light," and the exquisite duet with Susie Allanson, "For Old Times Sake." What it proves is that Delaney Bramlett has major talent; had he and Bonnie stayed together, had they grown together on their CBS deal, they would have had a clear chance to dominate the charts and become an overwhelming presence in pop music. Class Reunion is a tragedy in that it is so good and so forgotten.

1 Locked up in Alabama 2 Every Day's a Holiday 3 I Wish It Would Rain 4 It's a Touchy Situation 5 You Can't Measure My Love 6 I Think I Got It 7 Invitation to a Heartbreak 8 For Old Times' Sake 9 Who You Gonna Blame It On 10 You Were the Light

Catfish & Crystal were a local band in Iowa and Illinois in the early 1970's, and a fixture inIowa City, Iowa playing long gone venues like Gabe & Walkers, Maxwells, The C.O.D., The Lamplighterand The Mill. Comprised like a typical jam rock band of that era, it featured two drumers,two guitarists, a keyboard player, a bass, and sometimes a guest slide guitarist. I forgetmost of their names, except Mike Watts (R.I.P) on Drums. You'll hear a guest guitarist on a coupleof the last tracks, Craig DeWitt, who still plays in Cedar Rapids. He was a monster with a slide, Echoplex,and a volume pedal.

The high point of evening was usually when the group played what I think was an original tune,"Old Hawk" which often went on for 30 minutes or more.

If any guys from Iowa and Illinois could contact me, I'd love to get the names of themusicians.

Set List:

1. Its Allright2. Walking the Dog3. Unknown4. Goin' Down the Road5. One Hell of a Woman6. On a Monday7. Old Hawk8. Hideaway9. How Sweet It Is10. Time Changes Everything11. Steppin' Stone12. Roll With It13.Me & My Uncle14. Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone15. Allright16. 40 Days17. Its Allright Ma18. Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad19. Reelin' and Rockin'20. Not Fade Away

Craig DeWitt on Tracks 17-20 on Guitar.

Upped by Scooter123Still Up for Trades, See List & Contact Me Throughhttp://db.etree.org/mylibbydog

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Well I'm back. I got plenty of music on my hard drive and a hell of an internet connection.I'll be exploring where my musical head is and maybe even find new favorites along the way.So come along for a ride down the Rock n Roll highway with Skynfan at the wheel.

Skynfan"s trip through time

About Me

And Just a side note.The sole purpose for this Blog is Music preservation. Before time gets the best of us and the future generations are denied the chance to hear what we consider to be the best music in the world. Alot of what I post are only available on vynil and alot are bootlegs. If there is an obtainable CD of anything I post I expect you to do your best to obtain a copy of it. If you already own the cd or Album this is a great way to get a digital copy of your property. But this site is a place for me to promote the bands I love. If you find a new Band or artist that you like please support them by going to see them in concert or buying there merchandise. Thanks for stopping by my blog I hope you like it. -Skynfan

P.S. I do alot of copy and pasting also. So if you find that your review is posted here or something from your site is here and you want it removed or If you are one the Artist that would like to have there music pulled contact me @ burn_out6986@yahoo.com